Fireworks on the Fourth: Humid, Mostly Rain-Free in D.C.

If you plan on celebrating the Fourth of July in the Nation's Capital, prepare for a day of standard July heat and humidity. Activities start downtown at 11:45 a.m. with America's National Independence Day Parade, where marching bands, floats and celebrity participants are featured. The parade draws a large crowd, so plan to arrive early in order to secure a good viewing spot.

Fortunately, the weather is forecast to generally cooperate with the D.C. area's celebration plans. Morning temperatures will rise through the 80s under a sky of clouds and sunshine. It will be humid, however, so packing plenty of fluids and wearing light-colored clothing is recommended in order to combat the typical July weather.

During the afternoon, several more events are scheduled, including the Smithsonian Folklife Festival and the Fourth of July celebration at the National Archives. These events coincide with the hottest part of the day; temperatures are expected to rise into the lower 90s after noon. Add in the high humidity and that will lead to AccuWeather.com RealFeel® temperatures close to the 100-degree mark.

A pop-up shower or thunderstorm is possible; however, the chances will be mostly reserved for the afternoon and evening. Any shower or thunderstorm that does form can produce downpours and brief gusty winds; some very isolated storms can bring large hail.

The crowd will migrate to the National Mall toward dark for the main fireworks display, where launch time usually begins around 9:15 p.m. Viewing conditions are forecast to be good under partly cloudy skies with the temperature dropping through the 80s.

For those hoping to celebrate without the interruption of a shower or thunderstorm, the Nation's Capital is riding a hot streak of rain-free Fourth of July weather. The last time that measurable rain was reported in Washington, D.C., on Independence Day was in 2008. If this streak is any indication of what will occur on Thursday, the celebration should go off without a hitch.